Sorry Conrad,it is the West who are backing the Nazis in the Ukraine. It was they who over threw a democratically elected Govt of Ukraine.

Putin does not need to invade the Ukraine, he can win the peace via the BRICS nations. They will soon have their own bank and back their currencies with gold.More countries are joining the BRICS.eg Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The international reserve status of the US $ will soon be gone. They cannot continue to pay off their debts via money printing. The market is bigger than all their weapons.

The USA/West cannot win unless they go to war. The money printing continues by the US Fed and tapering is a lie. http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/

ITS SAD YOUR SO IGNORANT comrade /CONRAD
please get educated

http://tarpley.net/

http://www.activistpost.com/2014/05/ukraine-and-its-position-on-brzezinskis.html

http://news.antiwar.com/2014/05/14/ukraine-opens-peace-plan-talks-no-protesters-allowed/

http://rt.com/news/159168-kiev-businessman-massacre-mariupol/

http://rinf.com/alt-news/breaking-news/rosa-koire-talks-agenda-21-brian-engelman-video/

http://rinf.com/alt-news/breaking-news/can-government-officials-legally-lie/

Russian Finance Minister: We are “preparing a mechanism” that will allow us to dump the dollar in international trade.
http://ftmdaily.com/daily-briefing/051514/

http://investmentwatchblog.com/total-derivatives-exposure-for-top-5-banks-in-the-u-s-290-trillion/

http://xrepublic.tv/node/8907
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/05/13/exclusive_the_pentagon_has_a_plan_to_stop_the_zombie_apocalypse

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/15/greece-tax-idUSA8N0N100620140515

http://investmentwatchblog.com/former-treasury-secretary-tim-geithner-says-obama-admin-asked-him-to-mislead-on-economy-video/

http://www.thelonestarwatchdog.com/2014/05/13/politicians-attack-free-speech-persecute-arrest-demonize-oppostion-much-corruption-hide/

http://investmentwatchblog.com/ww3-u-s-plans-mass-executions-we-dont-stop-ww3-its-over/

There are some articles in OLO that literally leave one speechless. This one however is in a class of its own for sheer ignorance and blind obeisance to the Washington propaganda machine.

The least you can do Graeme is invite a contribution from someone who actually knows about Ukraine and Russia and adds to our understanding and knowledge.

This article is frankly garbage and you do you and your website a disservice by publishing it.

Agreed!
And if any think differently, then the way forward is another, replete with independent observers, free and fair democratic election! As opposed to any of the risible parodies, overseen by heavily armed Russian special forces!?
As I recall, the Nazis murdered some six million innocent Jews, Gypsies and homosexuals! Pretty ruthless, DA?
But nowhere as ruthless as Communist Stalin, who not only murdered 25 million of his own Russian people, but had twice that number incarcerated, for the flimsiest of power hugging reasons?
And all to sadly, in a power hungry Colonel Putin, we have a man who admires and tries to emulate Stalin and his achievements, quite ruthlessly!?
If I'm wrong, then where is the free press?
We in the west can assist a truly peaceful resolution to this alleged conflict! By discontinuing to buy or use any Russian gas or oil!
Easy enough for we Australians, who have plenty of both, and indeed, reserves to possibly equal or exceed the entire known reserves of the Middle East! And recoverable for a lot less than the Russians are paying to extract theirs'!
And never a better excuse or rationale, for finally cracking on with development!
Were we to develop and export this huge resource to Europe and elsewhere, the oil and gas dependent Russian economy, would likely not survive!
Money talks, but in today's oil and gas hungry world, oil and gas talk much louder! DA?
Rhrosty.

Hi James O'Neill

You're obviously a busy man. But "The least you can do" is spell the editor's name correctly.

Its Graham not "Graeme".

Please consider http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/author.asp?id=3 .

Planta

Many Eastern Ukrainians, reportedly around two thirds of them, don't want to unite with Russia, but do want more regional autonomy, so they as almost individual states, like say Georgia, have real independence!
And of course a peace loving Colonel Putin, would act to ensure they retained as much autonomy, as say, the aforementioned Georgia!
One recalls the ancient parable, where a leader took sticks and broke them all too easily, one by one.
But with all his effort, might and main, his legendary herculean strength, couldn't break a bundle of them.
And then he roared from the rooftops, united we stand, divided we fall!
It's time young Eastern Ukrainians, started thinking with their heads and their hearts, rather than something much further down!
Rhrosty.